In the women's division, Shahenda Wafa of Egypt beat WFM May Jaloul of Lebanon in the penultimate round then drew with Nabaa Sarn Abbas Attraqchi of Iraq to finish with 7.5 points in a tie with WIM Amina Mezioud of Algeria. Wafa won the tie break since she had beaten Mezioud in the 5th round.

WGM Schrook Wafa of Egypt won bronze after prevailing in a tie with WIM Sabrina latreche of Algeria at 6.5 points each.

The 9-round Swiss System tournament is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and sponsored by Emirates Air. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Games are broadcast live on chessbomb

Round 7: UAE’s Salem Pulls Away in Arab Chess

GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE beat GM Hicham Hamdouchi of Morocco in the 7th round to pull away with 6 points in the Arab Individual Chess Championship by Emirates at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai.

Salem used the Queen’s Gambit and Hamdouchi castled on the opposite wing. In the ensuing Rook and Pawn endgame, the Emirati had two connected passed pawns escorted by his King. Unable to stop the pawn advance, the Moroccan resigned on the 45th move.

A half point behind Salem is GM Bilel Bellahcene of Algeria. Bellahcene turned back the Reti Opening of FM Rafat Issa of Jordan. After a skirmish in the middle game, the Algerian transposed to the endgame a piece up and forced a Knight fork to win the Rook. Issa resigned on the 56th move.

Tied with 5 points each are GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt and IM Basheer Qudaimi of Yemen. Adly beat FM Ishaq Saeed of the UAE while Basheer beat IM Mohammed Tissir of Morocco. Issa and Hamdouchi trail with 4.5 points each together with IM Amir Zaibi of Tunisi and FM Chafik Taibi of Algeria.

In the women’s division, WGM Shahenda Wafa of Egypt b eat WIM Sabrina Latreche of Algeria to lead alone with 6 points out of 7 rounds. WIM Amina Mezioud of Algeria beat WIM Amira Hamza of Algeria to follow half a point behind at 5.5 points. WIM Alshaeby Boshra of Jordan beat WGM Shrook Wafa of Egypt to trail in third slot with 5 points.

The 9-round Swiss System tournament is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and sponsored by Emirates Air. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Games are broadcast live on chessbomb.com.

GM Bilel Bellahcene of Algeria

Round 6: UAE’s Salem Climbs Bacl on Top in Arab Chess

GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE beat IM Amir Zaibi of Tunisia in the 6th round to regain solo lead with 5 points in the Arab Individual Chess Championship by Emirates at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai.

Salem smashed the English Opening of the Tunisian with a Knight sacrifice followed by a Queen sacrifice to force resignation on the 34th move. The win put the Emirati alone in the lead as erstwhile leader GM Bilel Bellahcene of Algeria lost in the 6th round.

GM Hicham Hamdouchi of Morocco used the Sicilian Defense to beat Bellahcene. The Moroccan pried open White’s castled monarch with a kingside pawn storm. Hamdouchi then sacrificed his Queen on the 48th move and the Algerian resigned facing inevitable mate by Bishop scissors.

Hamdouchi, Bellahcene and Rafat Issa of Jordan are tied with 4.5 points each in second slot. Issa used the English Opening to beat IM Ishaq Saeed of the UAE in 40 moves.

In the women’s division, WGM Shahenda Wafa of Egypt maintained solo lead with 5 points out of 6 rounds as she drew with compatriot WGM Shrook Wafa. Tied at 4.5 points each are Shrook Wafa, WIM Amina Mezioud and WIM Sabrina Latreche, both of Algeria. With 4 points each are WFM Alshaeby Boshra of Jordan and WIM Amira Hamza of Algeria.

The 9-round Swiss System tournament is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and sponsored by Emirates Air. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Games are broadcast live on chessbomb.com.

GM Hicham Hamdouchi of Morocco

Round 5: Bilel Bellahcene Grabs Solo Lead in Arab Chess

GM Bilel Bellhacene of Algeria beat erstwhile leader Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE in round 5 to maintain solo lead with 4.5 points in the Arab Individual Chess Championship by Emirates at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai.

Bellahcene, 20, used the French Defense and promoted his pawn to Queen forcing Salem to lose a Rook and resign on the 55th move. Salem remains in striking distance alone in second slot with 4 points.

In the women’s division, WGM Shahenda Wafa of Egypt beat WIM Amina Mezioud of Algeria to grab solo lead with 4.5 points out of 5 rounds.Mezioud trailes with 4 points together with WGM Shrook Wafa of Egypt and WIM Sabrina Latreche of Algeria. WFM Alshaeby Boshra of Jordan follows with 3.5 points.

The tournament is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and sponsored by Emirates Air. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Games are broadcast live on chessbomb.com.

GM Bilae Bellahcene of Algeria

Round 4: UAE’s Salem Maintains Lead in Arab Chess

GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE beat GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt in round four to maintain solo lead with a perfect 4 points in the Arab Individual Chess Championship by Emirates at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai.

Salem used the Gruenfeld Defense and won a vital central pawn on the 15th move to penetrate deep into White’s territory. The Emirati was about to win a Rook when the Egyptian resigned on the 33rd move.

GM Bilel Bellahcene of Algeria crushed the Sicilian Defense of Mohammed Tissir of Morocco in 37 moves to stay in second slot alone with 3.5 points. Bellahiene embarked on an early kingside pawn storm and threatened mate on the back rank.

Four players trail with 3 points each, namely GM Hicham Hamdouchi of Morocco, IM Saeed Ishaq of the UAE, IM Basheer Qudaimi of Yemen and FM Rafat Issa of Jordan. Adly and Tissir have 2.5 points each together with IM Nassr Ali of Algeria, IM Amir Zaibi of Tunisia and FM Amro El Jawich of Lebanon.

In the women’s division, WIM Amina Mezoud of Algeria beat WGM Shrook Wafa of Egypt to grab solo lead with a perfect 4 point slate out of as many rounds. WGM Shahenda Wafa of Egypt beat WFM Alshaby Razan of Jordan to follow in second slot with 3.5 points. Shrook Wafa trails at 3 points together with WIM Amira Hamza and WIM Sabrina Latreche of Algeria, WFM Maya Jalloul of Lebanon and Nabaa Sami Abbas Al Attraqchi of Iraq.

The tournament is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and sponsored by Emirates Air. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Games are broadcast live on chessbomb.com.

Round 3: UAE’s Salem Grab Solo Lead in Arab Chess

GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE beat compatriot Ishaq Saeed to grab solo lead with 3 points out of three rounds of the Arab Individual Championship by Emirates at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai.

Salem crushed the Queen’s Indian Defense of Saeed in 51 moves. Earlier Salem beat IM Ali Nassr of Algeria in the first round and IM Al Khatib Ahmad of Jordan in the second round. Salem faces GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt in the 4th round. The tournament is a 9 round Swiss System competition among 29 men from 15 countries.

In the women’s division, WGM Shrook Wafa of Egypt and WIM Amina Mezioud of Algeria share the lead with 3 points out of as many rounds. Tied for second slot with 2.5 pointes each are WGM Shahenda Wafa of Egypt and WFM Ashaeby Bashra of Jordan.Local bet Ousha Al Shamsi of the UAE and six others are tied with 2 points each in a field of 23 players from 10 countries.

The tournament is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and sponsored by Emirates Air. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Games are broadcast live on chessbomb.com.

GM Salem A. R. Saleh (left) vs. IM Saeed Ishaaq, both of the UAE

Arab Chess Championships 2018 have officially started today

Arab Chess Championships 2018 which unite best chess players from Arabic countries to define the champions in classical, blitz and rapid competitions amongst Arabic national chess federations, have started today 26 November in JW Marriott Dubai. The competition is held under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. HH has already sent his best wishes to all participants of the event. The main sponsor of the event is one of the biggest airlines in the world – Emirates Airlines. Emirates Airlines often supports many sports in the UAE including chess.

The competition consists of several events: blitz, rapid and classical championships which will be organized in JW Marriott Dubai (blitz) and Dubai Chess Club (rapid and classical). Ten days of an interesting chess battles will be presented to chess fans not only in Arabic countries but for the chess community all over the world.

Opening Ceremony of Arab Chess Championships 2018

The Arab Chess Championships 2018 started with the Opening Ceremony. The short video with the highlights of the previous Arab championship, as well as the commercial of Dubai and the main sponsor of the event – Emirates Airlines was shown to the participants. This year is announced as the Year of Zayed to honor the anniversary of the great personality of the country – Sheikh Zayed Al Nehayan. All participants and guests enjoyed the video in his honor.

Sheikh Saud Al Muala, the President of the Arab Chess Federation opened the ceremony. He congratulated all participants with the start of the competition. He also mentioned that the winner of the classical championship will be qualified for the FIDE World Cup and will receive a Grandmaster title.

Dr. Sarhan Al Muaini, the President of the UAE Chess Federation greeted the participants wishing them luck in the event. He thanked his federation for the great job to make the championship happen. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the main sponsor of the competition – Emirates Airlines, mentioning its continuous support for the development of all sports including chess.